Watch Us Grow

Annual Report 2005–2006

The theme for our groundbreaking day was “We’re growing a great new library.” The bright sky matched the mood of the crowd gathered outside the library on September 1, 2005. Library staffers passed a spade ceremonially from the existing library to the site of the new one and the first shovel full of dirt was turned over.

Soon the earth was moving out at the rate of 300 truckloads a day — the first signs of growth. But “growth” doesn’t quite do justice to the change that is coming. Growth is usually a steady evolution over time. For example, the way our library use grows every year now. The number of items checked out in Champaign was up a remarkable 8.6 percent between July 2005 and June 2006.

The change brought by our new library will be more revolution than evolution. This growth spurt will give you a library three times the size of the existing one – big enough to bring big improvements.

While we take a moment to look back on a good year, the construction next door keeps us looking forward to our new library and the countless ways it will let us offer you more and serve you better. And better service will probably mean more growth. But with a big, beautiful new building, we’ll be ready.

Marsha Grove, Library Director

Highlights of the Year

Literary Legends Series

The library welcomed three authors of note to Champaign in the spring of 2006: Ernest Gaines, Walter Mosley, and Sherman Alexie. Parkland College provided space for this grant-funded series.

New Entrance Opens

A sunny south entrance and temporary parking lot were opened in November 2005 to serve customers until the new library opens. The final parking lot will be expanded into the area where the existing library now stands and will include new entrances off both State and Randolph Streets. We‘ll also add a handy drive-up book drop.

Digital Library Launched

Digital books and audiobooks arrived last year, letting you choose a book and read or listen to it on a computer without ever leaving home. Digital books can also be transferred to CDs or portable devices for reading on the go. Downloadable movies and music are around the corner.

Foundation on the Move

During the past year, the Champaign Public Library Foundation worked quietly to raise $2.5 million in gifts and pledges toward its $3 million fundraising goal for the new library. Kyle and Phyllis Robeson agreed to serve as honorary campaign chairs and pledged $500,000. The library’s meeting room pavilion will be dedicated to the Robeson family.

The new checkout area will be dedicated to Ann and Shahid Khan, who have pledged $250,000. The Donald C. Dodds Jr. family, the Marci Dodds-Jon Sokolski family, and the Newton H. Dodds family are making a combined gift of $200,000 for the children’s program room and teen area. A number of other donors have made gifts and pledges toward the new building totaling an additional $500,000. These gifts have been matched by an anonymous donor who agreed to meet, dollar for dollar, the first $1 million raised.

From July 2005 to June 2006, the Foundation’s total revenue was $492,350. Those proceeds not only supported the new library but also purchased needed books and other library materials and provide partial funding for the library7rsquo;s newsletter, The Last Word.

Foundation Supporters

Today, a truly great public library depends on a combination of public and private support. Our library is stronger, our collections are richer, and our programs reach more people because of your generosity. Thank you to all the individuals and organizations for their gifts received last fiscal year.

Library Friends

During library construction, the Friends of the Champaign Public Library moved their twice-yearly book sale to the former JBJ Centre a few blocks south of the library. Adding those proceeds to the income from their Sunday Book Sales and T-shirt, tote bag, and calendar sales, the Friends contributed a total of $22,890 this past year in support of activities that encouraged reading and promoted the library.

Friends Gifts 2005-2006

Read Me a Future packets for parents of newborns

Children’s library card campaign incentives

Literary Legends author series

Support of library newsletter, The Last Word

Teen programs and materials including summer reading club and Teen Read Week